Multiple unit switch with improved interlocking contact support bar



A ril 4, 1967 R. E. LOCHER 3,312,793

MULTIPLE UNIT SWITCH WITH IMPROVED INTERLOCKING CONTACT SUPPORT BAR Filed April 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 60 M ME/V702 A 055 5 LOCHER BY /-//5 ATTOE/V/E V5 Z5 Z5 Z5 72 @2 H4596, A7509, P055541. 6: E

Apnl 4, 1967 R. E. LOCHER 3,312,798

MULTIPLE UNIT SWITCH WITH IMPROVED INTERLOCKING CONTACT SUPPORT BAR Filed April 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N l ENTOR R055 5. LOCHER 5) ATTORNEYS HARE/5, K/ECH, Russ/ELL 6% KER United States Patent MULTIPLE UNIT SWITCH WITH IMPROVED INTERLOCKING CONTACT SUPPORT BAR Ross E. Locher, West Covina, Calif., assignor to Zinsco Electrical Products, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 541,581 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-50) This invention relates to electrical switches and, in particular, to a new and improved construction for achieving simultaneous closing of a plurality of switches which are ganged together for operation by a single closing and opening device. Electrical switches are often installed in multiples of two and three units for operation with a single manually actuated lever. Each switch unit of the multiple package will have its own overcenter or toggle mechanism for operating the moving contact. While the manual actuating lever will start each switch unit toward the on position at the same time, the individual toggle mechanisms ordinarily will not operate at exactly the same time with the result that the various units of the multiple package ordinarily will close at slightly different times.

In some installations it is highly desirable to have all switches of a multiple unit package close at exactly the same instant. This mode of operation is particularly desirable with higher current rated switches.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved multiple unit electrical switch incorporating means for controlling switch closure to achieve closing of all switch units simultaneously. An additional object is to provide such a structure which can be utilized for any number of switch units in the multiple unit package. An additional object is to provide such a structure which can be incorporated into switch units having circuit breaking or overload protection capability also.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide a new and improved switch closing control for multiple unit switches, which control can be added to conventional switches Without requiring change in the overcenter mechanism or in the overload protection mechanism.

A conventional multiple unit electrical switch may include two or more switch units arranged in side-by-side relation, with each switch unit'having, an on-oft mech anism with a housing, a fixed contact in the housing, a moving contact mounted on a contact carrier pivotally mounted in the housing, and an overcenter toggle mechanism for moving the contact carrier between a contact open positionand a contact closed position, with the multiple unit switch including a common actuating member for operating the overcenter mechanisms of the switch units in unison.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improvement for utilization in multiple unit switches including a support bar mounted in the side-by-side switch units for movement between a first contact carrier supporting position and a second nonsupporting position, such that when in the first position, the bar engages the contact carrier of each of the switch units intermediate the contact open and closed positions when the carrier is urged from the open position toward the closed position by the actuating member and the overcenter mechanism. A further object is to include a release lever' mounted in one of the switch units for actuation by the actuating member and engageable with the bar to move the bar to the second position after the contact carriers are moved into engagement with the bar by the actuating member, thereby permitting all of the contact carriers to close at the same time.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts,

which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. The drawings merely show and the description merely describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention which is given by way of illustration or example.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view showing a three unit electrical switch;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1, showing the switch in the open circuit condition;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional View taken 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the switch in the partially closed condition;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 5, showing the switch in the closed circuit condition; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of a switch case.

FIG. 1 illustrates three switch units 10, 11, 12 which are joined together in side-by-side relation by 'a plurality of through bolts 13 to form a multiple unit switch. Except for certain features to be mentioned here-inbelow, the three switch units 10, 11', 12 are identical in construction and operation. A lever 14 is pivotally mounted on the switch unit 11 for manual actuation of the three switch units. Rotation of the lever 14 from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1, through the position 14 to the position 14", produces translation of a slide member 15 from the position of FIG. 2, through the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 6, bymeans of engagement of a boss 16 of the lever 14 in a slot 17 in the slide member 15. A crossarm 20 is transversely positioned in a depending channel sectionll of each of the slide members 15 for driving the three slide members in unison. Clearance slots 22 are provided in the interior walls of the housings of the switch units for movement of the cross arm 20 (see FIGS. 3 and 4, in particular).

The switch mechanism as illustrated in the drawings has several groups of components which serve dilferent functions. One group includes the overcenteror toggle mechanism for the normal closing and opening operation of the switch. A second group includes the circuit breaker or overload protection aspect which provides for automatically opening the switch under certain overload conditions. A third group is the common tripping arrangement which provides for tripping of all switch units when one switch unit is tripped by the overload mechanism. A fourth group comprises the structure providing for simultaneous closing of all switches in accordance with the principal object of the invention. The first three groups will be described in general but are not considered essential features of the present invention. I

The particular switch unit illustrated in the drawings is a high current switch unit having three contact carrying arms connected in parallel but, of course, only a single contact carrier is necessary. A conducting plate 25 is fixed to the interior bottom of the switch housing 26 to serve as the fixed contact of the contact set. A two-conductor lug 27 is mounted on the outer end of the plate 25, for connecting the switch unit into an external circuit.

Fixed contacts 28, 28', 28" are mounted on contact carriers 29, 29', 29", for movement into the out of engagement with the fixed contact plate 25. The contact carriers are mounted on a pin 30 in the switch housing for pivoting movement and the three carriers are coupled together by another pin 31. The contact along the line carriers are electrically connected to another two-conductor lug 32 by a flexible cable 33, a terminal block 34, a U-shaped conductor 35, and a conductor plate 36. (See FIGS. 2 and 3) The overcenter mechanism includes a link 49 pivotally connected to another link 41 at a pin 42. The other end of the link 40 is mounted on a pivot 43 carried on a trip member 44. The other end of the link 41 is mounted on a pivot carried on the contact carrier 29. A spring 45 is connected in tension between the pin 42 and the channel member 21 of the slide member 15.

The links 40, 41 and the spring 45 comprise the basic overcenter or toggle mechanism of the switch for closing and opening the contact set. Movement of the slide member 15 from the position of FIG. 2, through the position of FIG. 5, to the position of FIG. 6, causes the spring 45 to pull the pivot pin 42 to the left and swing the contact carriers counterclockwise to close the contact set. Similarly, movement of the slide member 15 from the position of FIG. '6 to the position of FIG. 2 results in opening of the contact set.

The overload protection and common trip structures are shown in FIG. 2. The trip member 44 is :pivoted on pin 49 and is maintained in the position of FIG. 2 by a latch lever 50 pivoted on a pin 51. The latch lever 50 is held in place by a lever 52 pivoted at 53. The lever 52 may be rotated clockwise by a bimetal 54 which is fastened to the conductor 35 at the lower end of the bimetal. The lever 52 also may be rotated clockwise by magnetic attraction of the lower end thereof to a U- shaped magnetic member 55.

The overcenter spring 45 acts through the link 40 to urge the trip member 44 to rotate counterclockwise about the pivot 49. The trip member 44 engages the latch lever t), urging the latch lever clockwise. The latch lever is restrained by engagement with the lever 52. An overload current which actuates either the bimetal 54 or the magnetic trip 55, will cause clockwise rotation of the lever 52, releasing the lever 50 and thereby releasing the trip member 44. As best seen in FIG. 6, counter clockwise rotation of the trip member 44 produces upward movement of the links 40, 41 of the overcenter mechanism and opens the contact set. Movement of the lever 14 from the position of FIG. 6 to the position of FIG. 2 brings pin 58 into engagament with the trip member 44, as shown in FIG. 2, to reset the overload trip mechanism.

A common trip lever 59 is mounted on a bar 58. The bar 58 projects through all of the side-by-side switch units so that the common trip levers 590i all switch unitsare rotated together. Then when one switch unit is tripped due to an overload, the counterclockwise rotation of the trip member 44 produces a clockwise rotation of all of the levers 59. As the common trip lever 59 rotates clockwise, its lower end 57 will engage the lower end of the lever 52. and trip the switch open. This will occur in all of the side-by-side switches. This common trip action causes all switches to open if one is open because of an overload.

The common close structure of the invention includes a support bar 60 and a lever 61. The support bar 60 rests in aligned opening 62 in the interior walls of the housings of the switch units, and extends through all of the side-by-side assembled switch units. The lever 61 is pivotally mounted on a screw 63 and only one lever is utilized for the multiple switch assembly. The lever 61 has an upper portion 65 positioned for engagement by the crossarm 2t), and a notched lower portion 66 including a projecting arm 67 (FIG. 6). The bar 60 moves between the position of FIG. 2 and the position of FIG. 6, within the limits permitted by the aligned openings 62. A spring 6% may be incorporated to urge the bar toward the position of FIG. 2 and in the embodiment illustrated, the spring 69 is connected between the lever 61 and the bar 60.

In the preferred structure illustrated herein, a notch 72 (FIG. 3) is provided in the support bar 69 for receiving the arm 67 of the lever 61. Also, notches 73 are provided in the contact carriers 29 (FIG. 6) to provide a'clearance for the support bar 60 when the switches are in the contact closed position. A downwardly projecting arm 75 on the trip member 44 (FIG. 6) serves as an overcenter stop for the toggle mechanism.

When the switch is in the open position as shown in FIG. 2, the contact carriers 29 are maintained in the upward position by the toggle mechanism and ordinarily there is some clearance between the support bar 60 and the contact carriers 29. As the lever 14 is rotated to close the switch units, the slide member 15 of each switch unit moves to the left, exerting a force on the overcenter mechanism via the spring 45. Under ordinary circumstances, the overcenter mechanism of each individual switch unit will snap over at a slightly diiierent time. This would result in closing of the contact set of each switch unit at a slightly different time.

In the structure of the present invention, as each switch unit snaps over center, the contact carriers of the switch unit will rotate counterclockwise and come to rest on the support bar 60, as shown in FIG. 5. As the lever 14 is rotated further, the crossarm 20 will engage the upper end 65 of the lever 61, producing a counterclockwise rotation of the lever 61. The counterclockwise rotation of the lever 61 forces the lower end 66 thereof into engagement with the support bar 60 and moves the support bar to the position of FIG. 6. This movement of the support bar 60 results in exactly simultaneous release of all of the contact carriers so that all contact sets are closed at exactly the same time. This completes the desired common closing operation of the multiple switch assembly. The switch units may be opened in the conventional manner, either by rotating the lever 14 in the opposite direction or by tripping of the overload protection structure.

The common close feature of the switch is particularly adapted for use with switches of higher current ratings but, of course, is not limited to any particular size or rating of switch. Also, it should be noted that the common close construction is not limited to use with the specific on-off mechanism illustrated herein but is readily adaptable to the various on-off mechanisms used in electrical switch units.

Although an examplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and discussed, that other applications of the invention are possible and that the embodiment disclosed may be subjected to various changes, modifications and substitutions without necessarily departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a multiple unit electrical switch including:

at least two switch units arranged in side-by-side relation, each switch unit having an on-oif mechanism with a housing, a fixed contact mounted in the housing, a moving contact mounted on a contact carrier pivotally mounted in said housing, and an overcenter toggle mechanism for moving said contact carrier between 2. contact open position and a contact closed position; and

a common actuating member for operating the overcenter mechanisms of said switch units in unison;

the improvement comprising in combination:

a support bar mounted in said side-by-side switch units for movement between a first contact carrier supporting position and a second nonsupporting position, such that when in said first position, said support bar engages the contact carrier of each of the switch units intermediate the contact open and closed positions when the carrier is being moved from the open positiontoward the closed position by said actuating member and overcenter mechanism preventing further movement of the carrier; and

a release lever mounted in one of said switch units for it will be understood actuation by said actuating member and engageable with said bar to move said bar to said second position after said contact carriers are moved into engagement with said bar by said actuating member, with movement of said bar to said second position permitting simultaneous movement of all of said contact carriers to the closed position.

2. A switch as defined in claim 1 in which said housings of said side-by-side switch units include aligned openings with said support bar positioned therein for moving between its first and second positions, and including spring means for urging said bar toward said first position.

3. A switch as defined in claim 1 in which said common actuating member includes an arm moving therewith, and in which said release lever is pivotally mounted in the housing with one end disposed for engagement with said arm and the other end disposed for engagement with said bar.

4. A switch as defined in claim 1 in which said housings of said side-by-side switch units include aligned openings with said support bar positioned therein for moving between its first and second positions, and including a spring coupled between said bar and said lever for urging said bar toward said first position.

. 5. A switch as defined in claim 1 in which said bar includes a notch facing away from the contact carriers and said lever includes an arm for movement in said notch for moving said bar to said second position as said lever is engaged by said actuating member, and including spring means for urging said bar toward said first position.

6. A switch as defined in claim 1 in which each of said contact carriers includes a notch facing toward said bar for receiving an edge of said bar as it is moved from said first to said second positions.

7. A switch as defined in claim 1 in which said bar includes a notch facing away from the contact carriers, and said lever includes an arm movable into said bar notch for moving said bar to said second position as said lever is engaged by said actuating member, and each of said contact carriers includes a notch facing toward said bar for receiving an edge of said bar as it is moved from said first to said second positions. 

1. IN A MULTIPLE UNIT ELECTRICAL SWITCH INCLUDING: AT LEAST TWO SWITCH UNITS ARRANGED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, EACH SWITCH UNIT HAVING AN ON-OFF MECHANISM WITH A HOUSING, A FIXED CONTACT MOUNTED IN THE HOUSING, A MOVING CONTACT MOUNTED ON A CONTACT CARRIER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, AND AN OVERCENTER TOGGLE MECHANISM FOR MOVING SAID CONTACT CARRIER BETWEEN A CONTACT OPEN POSITION AND A CONTACT CLOSED POSITION; AND A COMMON ACTUATING MEMBER FOR OPERATING THE OVERCENTER MECHANISMS OF SAID SWITCH UNITS IN UNISON; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A SUPPORT BAR MOUNTED IN SAID SIDE-BY-SIDE SWITCH UNITS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST A CONTACT CARRIER SUPPORTING POSITION AND A SECOND NONSUPPORTING POSITION, SUCH THAT WHEN IN SAID FIRST POSITION, SAID SUPPORT BAR ENGAGES THE CONTACT CARRIER OF EACH OF THE SWITCH UNITS INTERMEDIATE THE CONTACT OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WHEN THE CARRIER IS BEING MOVED FROM THE OPEN POSITION TOWARD THE CLOSED POSITION BY SAID ACTUATING MEMBER AND OVERCENTER MECHANISM PREVENTING FURTHER MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIER; AND 